Geography

Key Stage 3 Geography Curriculum Intent

In Key Stage 3 Geography, we aim to deliver a varied and challenging curriculum to suit multiple learning styles. Our purpose is to encourage a passion for our subject alongside developing excellence of character. We instil and cultivate the skills required at GCSE from the start, with an equal balance of opportunities for fun. Students study a combination of aspects of both physical and human Geography with units about the UK and the wider world. They also study elements of fieldwork to develop their geographical skills. This is to inspire students and build their curiosity and fascination about the world and its people that will remain with them for the rest of their lives.

There has never been a better or more important time to study Geography. With growing interest in issues such as climate change, migration, environmental degradation and social cohesion, Geography is one of the most relevant courses you could choose to study. 

Our Geography curriculum equips students with knowledge about diverse places, people, resources and natural and human environments, together with a deep understanding of the earth’s key physical and human processes. As students progress, their growing knowledge about the world will help them to deepen their understanding of the interaction between physical and human processes, and of the formation and use of landscapes and environments. 

The Geography curriculum at Meopham School aims to develop character by ensuring that all pupils:

  • Develop their knowledge of the location of globally significant places and how these provide a geographical context for understanding the actions and processes of key physical and human geographical features of the world;

  • Can collect, analyse and communicate with a range of data that deepens their understanding of geographical processes;

  • Can interpret a range of sources of geographical information, including maps, diagrams, globes and aerial photographs;

  • Can communicate geographical information in a variety of ways, including through maps, numerical and quantitative skills and through extended writing.

The scheme of work for Key Stage 3 is organised so that students can enrich their locational knowledge and spatial and environmental understanding. They focus on the environmental regions of multiple countries and continents, their key physical and human characteristics, and major cities. They study the differences and links between places through the study of human and physical geography of specific regions around the world.

In Key Stage 3 pupils are offered guided choices in tasks of varying difficulty to promote progress for all. This lends itself to opportunities for all abilities to work independently, as well as in mixed groups, and to promote progress through the teaching and coaching of each other. This improves their resilience, reflectiveness, resourcefulness and reciprocity skills. The scheme of work has a careful balance of extended writing opportunities, coupled with decision-making tasks and fieldwork opportunities to promote pupils’ ability to become well-rounded individuals. There are also a wide range of stretch tasks available every lesson to challenge pupils.

Key Stage 3 - Geography Overview